Should I have left a small tip?

[ForgedInFire]

Please help me settle this debate with my family.
I went to get my hair cut and blow dried today, it's the first hair cut I've had in a couple of years. The price listed is £30, but there is a £3 surcharge for PPE which I knew about in advance. I came with £40 only and intended to leave a £5 tip. I got my hair cut by the owner of the salon and when I went to pay, I was charged £38. I kind of froze- I felt like it was rude to not tip (I was very happy with my hair) but I felt like tipping somebody £2 is insulting. When I was having my hair cut she offered to curl it and I said yes but she didn't say anything about it costing extra, it was only curled at the bottom not the whole head, I dont mind paying extra for that but if I had known I probably would have declined because I knew I only had a set amount of money. My family made me feel really bad for not tipping, I am generally a bit socially awkward.
Was I unreasonable?
YABU- you should have given her the £2
YANBU- it was OK not to tip

I find hair salons expensive enough so I never tip. I'm stingy though I pretty much only tip in restaurants and sometimes taxi / uber eats (but usually not even that). If I was rich maybe I would but I don't have a lot of spare cash

If you must tip in a hairdressers - tip the assistant that washed your hair. Their wage is absolutely miserable.

I never tip my hairdresser, and pay by card.

Never an issue.

Tipping only gives employers an excuse to pay low wages. It should not be the norm here. It should not be the norm anywhere, really.

I have never and would never tip a hairdresser. I probably would have said "keep the change" just because it keeps things breezy. If I was short of money though, I would 100% take the £2.
That's eggs or milk and bread etc if you're struggling financially.
The tipping culture that's beginning here is outrageous. I understand in America, but not here. The more we tip, the more we encourage employers not to pay properly as they will expect employees to top it up with tips.

I always tip at the salon. A fiver for my hairdresser and a couple of quid for the junior who washes my hair. They definitely appreciate it.

Traditionally you don't tip your hairdresser if they are the business owner, because it's assumed they don't need a wage lift.

I'd have left the £2 for the kid that washed your hair, but if the salon owner did the whole thing, no need.

My hairdresser is lovely and I mostly tip. Pre covid customers often brought boxes of biscuits or scones .
My hairdresser has refused tips at times , but I appreciate her and so kind and helpful.

[quote littlepattilou]@2pinkginsplease

I don't understand how a 16 and 25 can do the same job yet the 25 year old gets paid nearly double than the 16 yr old. So always tip the person who washes my hair.

How on earth do you only manage to tip the girl who washes your hair? Do you slip her a fiver when you have your head backwards over the sink? Because unless it's always the 16 y.o. who takes the money, I can't see how you can just give a tip to her. (And in my experience, the novices/trainees, NEVER take the payment!)

Also, a 16 y.o. is on much less money yes, and there's a reason for that. They have much less experience of ANYthing, and no experience in the job, and they also have no outgoings, bills, rent, food to buy etc etc... As the vast majority of them will be living with their parents.

Whereas a 25 y.o. is much more likely to be independent and living away from home, with all the costs that entails. She will have more work experience and life experience too.[/quote]
I always have change in my pocket and hand them £2 for themselves.

I also know a couple of 16/17yr olds who don’t live at home and pay bills. I also know a few 17yr olds that are way better than the 25 yr olds at their job. Age means nothing, it’s all to do with dedication and a good work ethic!

@Scottishnewbie.
Bread, milk or eggs if you're struggling ? This I understand, but if you are genuinely struggling then how the hell can you afford to go to the hairdressers ? Much as I would love to go I haven't been for years because I can't afford it.

How on earth do you only manage to tip the girl who washes your hair?

With a bit of imagination, I say to whoever takes the money "and this is for the person who washed my hair" and hand over £2. They usually know who it was but if not I say "the blonde one" or whatever.

I tip my actual hairdresser £5.

Also, a 16 y.o. is on much less money yes, and there's a reason for that. They have much less experience of ANYthing, and no experience in the job, and they also have no outgoings, bills, rent, food to buy etc etc... As the vast majority of them will be living with their parents

As a 16 year old I was on the floor doing full head highlights, colours and permanent straightening services on top of scalp massages, reception duties, shampooing, washing towels, serving tea while the stylists just chose the colours and cut the hair after.

When I used to get the odd tip, those clients would firmly tell the stylist or the person at the front desk that it was for me. Sometimes that decided if my dinner was going to be toast or not! I didn't have my parents - I lived alone in a council flat and no support. Of course my experience as a youngster out on their own is rare, but piss poor wages like that at any age isn't okay when it's a full time job, esp. in covid times where they are practically face to face and doing all the cleaning.

YANBU.

I've never tipped a hairdresser.

What she offered should be included in the price.

I don't normally tip hairdressers either just like I don't tip staff on Tesco checkouts or or anyone who makes my coffee or checks my luggage in an airport. They get paid for that through what they charge me. The people who I tip are people who don't try to rip me off by slyly adding extras and just generally waiters/waitresses who are students or anyone who goes above and beyond for me in the service sector.

Although I must admit, I did tip my toddlers hairdresser because he was kicking and screaming and the hairdresser was so patient with him by playing and distracting him at the same time safely cutting his hair and giving us breaks in between when it got a bit heated. That hairdresser did deserve that tip as it was a scary stressful experience for her and me every time the scissors went back and forth around my sons head, face and ears whilst trying to hold him still from crying and escaping.

It's always been a fiver for the shampoo girl and ten for the stylist.

£15 per visit. So if DD and I have our haircut 4 times a year each that's £120! I wouldn't want to go to a hairdresser who underpays their staff and expects their wages to be topped up by tips.

Don’t give it another thought OP . It’s really not a big deal you done nothing wrong .

@RosesandBluebells

Also, a 16 y.o. is on much less money yes, and there's a reason for that. They have much less experience of ANYthing, and no experience in the job, and they also have no outgoings, bills, rent, food to buy etc etc... As the vast majority of them will be living with their parents

As a 16 year old I was on the floor doing full head highlights, colours and permanent straightening services on top of scalp massages, reception duties, shampooing, washing towels, serving tea while the stylists just chose the colours and cut the hair after.

When I used to get the odd tip, those clients would firmly tell the stylist or the person at the front desk that it was for me. Sometimes that decided if my dinner was going to be toast or not! I didn't have my parents - I lived alone in a council flat and no support. Of course my experience as a youngster out on their own is rare, but piss poor wages like that at any age isn't okay when it's a full time job, esp. in covid times where they are practically face to face and doing all the cleaning.

Agree, but that's not for the general public to be expected to make up the shortfall.

@Floralnomad

I’d have just given her the £40 , personally I’d have found it more embarrassing taking the £2 change than only leaving a £2 tip .

I agree

Whilst I do tip, but not every time.

I get my roots done every 4 weeks but only have a cut every 8-12 weeks. I tend to just tip a larger amount when I am getting a cut (and ask them to give some to the apprentice who washes my hair).

I wouldn't tip a salon owner.

I don't tip at the hairdressers, and I would have been annoyed that they charged you extra for curling your hair without telling you it would incur a charge. £3 extra for PPE is also a rip off, those masks cost about 20p and they probably wear them for 5 customers.

I hate tipping culture, I will only tip someone if I’ve had exceptional service and I feel like I really want to, otherwise where does tipping end? I hate in America where the wages of staff rely on tips to make up a living wage - I think employers should just pay them more! A tip should be a nice extra if I feel like it, not an expectation just for doing there job.

I never tip and my rule is that if anywhere adds an ‘optional’ charge on then I always request that it’s removed. I don’t like the fact that they feel it’s ok to demand more of my money at a percentage set by them.

I never tip.

I tip my hairdresser but not £2 😬 I'd have been embarrassed too, like you I have been pre-programmed into tipping.
On another vein, pre covid, we went to a restaurant and the bill came to £380 (5 of us) we left a £40 cash tip then when I checked the bill we had already been charged a £38 service charge, the server didn't point it out, we basically paid nearly £80 in tips!
I hate tipping.

Don't worry op. I would have left the change and do now always tip hair dressers but didn't used to (didn't know it was a thing) and know lots of people who don't.